§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that charges of alleged maladministration have from time to time been brought against the
†See page 769.1045 Government of the Congo Free State by British subjects; whether these charges have been investigated by His Majesty's Government; and, if so, with what result.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY,) Kensington, S.Yes, Sir. The hon. Member will find, in Mr. Casement's Report and other Papers recently laid before Parliament in connection with that Report, the steps taken by His Majesty's Government to investigate the charges of maladministration in the Congo Free State.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)Are not these charges got up by people who are jealous of the progress Belgium is making in the Congo and with a view to capturing the rubber industry in that State?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!